High School Graduation Party/Open House on a Budget!?!
High School Graduation Party/Open House on a Budget!?
My son is graduating in May on a Sunday, and I would like to throw a open house/party....he's insisting that you have to provide a meal, I thought a cake and punch but want him to be happy....I have a $150.00 budget which doesn't go to far...does anyone have ideas on what kind of food would feed a lot of people without costing a fortune. Any comments appreciated.
Answers:
Relax. Have a cookout--hamburgers and hot dogs. Have the family pitch in--potato and macaroni salads, veggie tray, baked beans, maybe some watermelons, kool aid and call it a day.
get Deli trays from your supermarket
Why not ask all that come to bring a dish of their favorite foods. That way everyone can sample foods of others taste.
Sloppy Joe's,fresh vegetables with dip and chips. That should leave enough money left over for (pop or soda) what ever you call it were you live. You can make up a big cooker full of Sloppy Joe's and buns can be purchased for next to nothing at bakery outlet stores. Stock up a little a head of time and freeze buns. Make sure to double wrap before freezing. Check out dollar stores for napkins and plates etc. It will work out fine.
There are a variety of ways you could go with this. You could order a bunch of 10 dollar pizzas (if its on a Tuesday Papa John's has them for 5 dollars) Or you could make something. Spaghetti is a food that goes a long way for a low price. A little meat and a lot of sauce, and noodles and you are ready to feed an army on a very affordable budget. Also Drummies (homemade of course!) are affordable too. you can get a 5+ lb bag for 10 dollars, and either fry them, or bake them to make hot wings (or any other flavor of wings) Actually on a budget of $150, you can make both and it would be a sure hit at any party (Who doesnt love spaghetti and/or chicken?) Hopefully this will help you!
okay, i don't know where you live, but go to walmart and there are $1 balloons with many signs on them for decoration. (happy graduation, etc.) you can buy sherbert ice cream and fruit punch an put them together. ( i use it every time.) for food buy pizza from your local pizza shop. thanks for letting me help. :)
Party-Party Buffalo Wings
60 chicken wings (about 2 pounds)
5/8 cup margarine or butter, melted
5/8-1 cup bottled hot pepper sauce
5 teaspoons paprika
salt (optional)
pepper (optional)
2 1/2 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 1/2 cups crumbled blue cheese
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup white wine vinegar or white vinegar
crumbled blue cheese (optional)
celery
Preheat broiler.
Cut off and discard tips of chicken wings.
Cut wings at joints to form 24 pieces.
Place chicken pieces in a shallow nonmetal pan.
For sauce, in a small mixing bowl stir together melted margarine or butter, hot pepper sauce, and paprika.
Pour mixture over chicken wings, stirring to coat.
Cover chicken and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Drain chicken, reserving sauce.
Place chicken pieces on the unheated rack of a broiler pan.
Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, if desired.
Brush with some of the reserved sauce.
Broil chicken 4 to 5 inches from the heat about 10 minutes or until light brown.
Turn the chicken pieces; brush again with the reserved sauce.
Broil for 10 to 15 minutes more or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Meanwhile, in a blender container or food processor bowl combine sour cream, mayonnaise or salad dressing, the 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, garlic, and vinegar.
Cover and blend or process until smooth.
If desired, top dip with additional crumbled blue cheese before serving.
Serve with wings and celery sticks and dip.
Makes 12 appetizer servings.
Make-Ahead Tip: Store dip, covered, in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.
If your celebration is large and includes parents, why not have them all contribute a dish "pot-luck" style? Then you could use your budgeted $150 for some special dishes that you otherwise might not have been able to make. Personally, with the cost of food these days, I never go to a home gathering any more without bringing something to contribute. I would hope your son has the maturity to be able to understand that your budget is limited, and that the event isn't for the purpose of "keeping up with the Joneses"...
Skip the meal and go with appetizers.
buffalo wings, stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs, vegetable and or fruit tray, canapes...
Texas roll ups are one of my favorite.
Let 2 packages of cream cheese soften
Whip in some garlic (to taste) and a little finely chopped parsley
Drain 3 cans of black beans (or cook your own)
Spread tortillas with cream cheese
Top with a single layer of beans (leave an inch on one side)
Roll them up, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour
Then, slice the tortillas in 3/4 inch pieces
They look like pinwheels and taste so yummy!!
Have fun... Be creative... $150 can go a long way and feed many
I used to have big parties for graduations, etc. and I usually made a very big pot of Barbeque hamburger. Used lean ground beef and bottled barbeque sauce with chopped onions. Bought hamburger buns, used canned baked beans, coleslaw and potatoe chips for the meal. I usually had a couple of crock pots to keep the barbeque beef and baked beans hot. When you have people coming in and out for an open house it is a convenient way to keep food hot. It always went over big and was a very inexpensive meal for a crowd of people. You could buy a nice sheet cake also and serve ice cream and coffee with it.
i do not know you will order from out side or buy from storeor just do it.
I think do it you and your wife better.
fried chicken cooked beef.fruits.rice ......
start out with a cook out... you provide the meat and buns... then make it a pot luck... have everyone bring something (be careful though you'll have 20 dishes of potato salad!) congrats to your son!